Although I live in Stapleton, I’d never made it to the nearby Lowry Beer Garden because I assumed—like most beer gardens—that the menu would consist of nothing more than brew and brats. But one late afternoon last week, on the way back from a long bike ride, a friend and I decided to stop in. It was, after all, the perfect time for a beer.

The diversity of the menu surprised me. There was the expected line-up of brats, dogs, burgers, and sandwiches, of course. But under the direction of Troy Guard (the chef behind TAG, TAG Raw Bar, and TAG Burger Bar), the casual lineup included a list of lighter salads such as kale and quinoa; feta and red pepper with arugula; and my choice: seared tuna. Served atop a mélange of edamame, fresh mango, Napa cabbage, cucumber, and romaine, the mostly raw tuna was edged in peppery spices and tossed in a light miso vinaigrette. My hard-earned meal was rounded out by an order of sweet potato fries and a pint of Avery White Rascal.

It might have taken me a year to get there (Lowry Beer Garden just celebrated its one-year anniversary), but I suspect this is going to be a frequent road-bike rest stop this summer.

7577 E. Academy Blvd., 303-366-0114